GUWAHATI: Following a spell of heavy rains, a stretch of the National Highway 306, which connects Assam with Mizoram, has been blocked for vehicular traffic after a massive landslide hit the area, said reports emerging on Friday.
According to available information, a multi-storey building by the roadside came crashing down onto the highway due to a landslide that hit the Company Bank locality on NH-306 in Mizoram’s capital Aizawl.
Following the tumbling down of the building, traffic on the national highway has come to a grinding halt.
There are reports of several vehicles becoming stranded on the NH-306, disrupting the flow of traffic between Aizawl and Silchar after the bizarre incident occurred.
There have been complaints that the Mizoram administration is yet to start rescue operations for stranded people and clearing of debris has not been done in the landslide-hit area.
As a temporary solution, the Mizoram Government has reportedly diverted the movement of vehicles through the Sherkhan Path which is said to be in a deplorable condition. Resulting from this, commuters are facing a harrowing time traveling on the risky route.
There is, however, report of any loss of life or injury caused in the incident.
Earlier, in the middle of June, heavy rain caused a major landslide on National Highway 6 in Mizoram, which connects the state with the rest of the country. The landslide happened in the Hunthar area, located on the western outskirts of Aizawl, according to officials.
Fortunately, that time too, there were no reports of any fatalities or injuries being caused. The administration swung into action to clear the debris and restore the affected stretch of the national highway.
The continuous rainfall in the state due to the monsoon led to landslides in various parts of Mizoram.
Mizoram experiences regular landslides annually during the monsoon season. According to geologists, the ground in Mizoram is primarily composed of unconsolidated sandstone and shale, which are among the predominant rock types in the region. These geological characteristics make the state more susceptible to landslides. The combination of heavy rainfall and the nature of the rocks contribute to the likelihood of slope instability and mass movement, posing challenges for the residents and infrastructure in Mizoram.
Also, a significant number of landslides in Mizoram occur along roadways and are primarily triggered by heavy rainfall. To address this issue, it has become essential for the government and the Public Works Department (PWD) to incorporate these factors while chalking out their policies and practices during road construction and expansion projects.
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